GeordieWife

I call people at random and ask them for money.

So that WAS you!!!! I KNEW it!!!!!!!!

AWWWWW I wanna be married for this long! (but i'd be 112 when i died!). Still...I love this story!

Texas couple celebrate 80 years of marriage

02:37 PM CST on Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Associated Press

FRANKSTON, Texas -- On a quiet, narrow side street in Frankston, there sits a modest white frame house, surrounded by towering trees and well-established neighbors. Leaves in rich earthy hues drift to the ground, caught up in the whisper of a cool fall breeze.

Pull into the driveway and there is a comforting feeling of familiarity, like visiting a cherished grandparent.

There are potted plants on the porch and a squeaky screen door that complains when opened.

This is the home of Melvin and Minnie Lou Scott, married 80 years.

At 100 and 99, they still do their own yard work and eat bacon almost every day with breakfast.

Unlike most of us, they don't seem concerned about ultraviolet light, the effects of cholesterol or monitoring their body mass index.

They just focus on the simple things in life: mowing, gardening and puttering.

Their choice of pastimes seems to have little to do with age -- modest living has always been their credo.

"We've lived in this house 78 years," Mrs. Scott said, settling in at an aging yellow Formica top kitchen table. "That road outside was the highway to Athens and Dallas when we built."

Her husband said, "We had our house built right after we married."

Like the highway, rerouted years earlier, many things have changed over the past eight decades.

"Out of my whole class in school, everyone died but me," she said. "I'm the only one living. I'm not sure why I lived this long. I didn't think I would."

The Scotts married on Nov. 11, 1927 -- the same year Philo T. Farnsworth invented television, artists began carving Mount Rushmore and Babe Ruth was the first baseball player to hit 60 runs in a single season.

They could be the oldest married couple in the United States, but neither seems to dwell on the possibility.

"When the Depression hit, that was terrible," she said. "You couldn't get work nowhere."

Scott said he eventually found work driving a truck and later took a second job.

"I worked until I was 82 as a night watchman," he said.

While he worked, Mrs. Scott took care of the home front.

The couple can't pinpoint what factors contributed to their marital longevity, but they remain grateful to have shared so many happy years together.

"We've been knowing each other all of our life," Scott said. "I don't know what it was about her. We were just used to being around each other."

The Scotts grew up in neighboring towns and gathered occasionally to compete in sporting events.

They eventually decided to marry, but the ceremony was anything but typical.

"They were married on the stage of a traveling tent show," said James Scott, 78, the couple's only child. "The producers of the show offered $25 to any couple who would be married on their show. Since they were getting married anyway, they took them up on it -- just about everyone in the area was there."

James Scott said he grew up hearing the story of the high profile marriage, but his memories center on his parent's love of the outdoors, especially family fishing trips.

Decades later, they are still on the go.

"He was out mowing a few minutes ago," James Scott said, glancing sideways at his father, who was grinning broadly. "He was still operating a chain saw or driving a tractor until a couple of years ago."

The elder Scott said he didn't give up his saw or his tractor by choice.

"When my doctor found out, he told me to stop," he said. 'Clean Life'

In eight decades of marriage, the couple said they've never had a fight.

"We've had lots of discussions," Scott said.

"I always lose," said Mrs. Scott. "He decides what he wants to do and does it."

The couple celebrated their 80-year union Nov. 11 during a party filled with family and well-wishers.

Known as "Gramps and Granny" to their family, the Scotts have three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Walls of their home are decorated with family photos, vacation souvenirs and paintings of beloved pets, including Missy, their 14-year-old terrier mix.

Scott turns 101 in February; Mrs. Scott will celebrate her 100th birthday in May.

Early marriage photos depict a dark-headed couple with impish grins.

Their hair is sparkling silver now, but the expressions are the same.

When asked if her husband has developed an ego over his longevity, Mrs. Scott said. "I won't comment on that one."

The couple said there's no real secret to their long love affair.

"If people want to stay married, I guess I would tell them to live right, stay off dope and live a clean life," said Mrs. Scott.

Her husband offered a different perspective on living long and large.

"We've always worked," he said. "We still work. And we eat three meals a day."

James Scott said his parents' simple lifestyle provided valuable lessons.

"They taught me to live conservatively so I could save money," he said. "We didn't always agree, but we always managed to talk things through. I've always been able to depend on them. Now that the tables are turning, you definitely feel the obligation. They helped me when I needed help and now I do whatever I can to help them."

With their anniversary milestone behind them, the Scotts seem to be counting the days until the holidays when the entire family will come together in celebration.

"They're coming home for Christmas," said Mrs. Scott. "We can hardly wait."

Great. So now all the losers who couldn't do that math and wound up with 1% or 2% rates that will jump in a few years get to KEEP the 1% or 2% rates for 5 years! Wow, what a wonderful way to reward stupidity!

I agree with you here too...but like I said before, if we don't do something like this, we'll ALL pay dearly later. Better to reward stupidity than to financially rape the masses IMO. Maybe the lenders can do something like tack the rest of the interest to the end of the loan to repay it like a deferrment or something.

Right. Alot of things that happened in the mortgage market shouldn't have happened. But that said, I'm not sure the government should really step in. I think if the market takes the full impact of its mistakes, its less likely to let the mistakes happen again in the future. If the government steps in, it may create a dangerous precedent, that the market can always mess itself up, and government will clean up the mess. And it will also put the impact of the mess on tax payers, instead of those who profited enormously from the mess.

You make a very good point here...but i'm not convinced that those who profited would be the only ones cleaning up the mess as well. I think eventually gov't would be called in anyway because of the HUGE ripple affect real estate has on the U.S. (henceforth worldwide) economy. Freezing the interest may be the most conservative 'bail out' in the long run for everyone. It probably will save much more financial hardship on this country's economy than it will eventually cost. As for setting a precedent...it may for some things. But in SOME cases a gov't bail out is necessary to SAVE us from sure depression in the future. Social security and medicare are examples...not perfect systems, but served their purpose in the semi short term. Not to say that 'saves' and 'programs' need to be tweaked now and then, but sometime government intervention is just what we need to survive. For conservatives this seems dangerous, but sometimes, we really need a government to govern.

Do you wear a shirt like this?

Thank you Bill Y Bella! That's great news!

In my best Elvis voice....Thank you! Thank you very much!

Steven, this can be very very delicate in some cases. With my family I listen intently usually. Thank them...sort through what I like and don't like, and do what I believe is right. I sometimes share with them what worked for me so they feel like they've contributed in a positive way. But I think most families do this because they have your best interest at heart...and not so much because they think you're not capable of doing the right thing.

The unfortunate thing is so often, belief systems can clash and what one person believes is right..is not what you may think is right. It doesn't mean that either is wrong, but in an in-law situation, it can be pure poison to a relationship if the couple is not in agreement (I say this from experience with ex in-laws....nothing I did would EVER please them and hubby never stood up for me. THAT is a marriage killer). So if it is the inlaws nagging at you..and your spouse just lets them, or sides with them...I'd put my foot down big time.

Hey I became a senior member today! Suddenly I feel much older.

So did no one get approved today? I know I didn't. Not a touch. Not a nudge. I'd even settle for a push or a shove at this point.

I'm all for the metric system too..it's so much easier in nursing to do drug calculations with metric. I still deal with both....converting lbs to kg constantly. It's a pain. That's most of the math right there is converting to metric...if we just used it..we wouldn't need to convert! That's half the chance of med errors right there!

I didn't mean to duplicate that post....must have been a conversion error in the planning of that post. OOOER!!!

So did no one get approved today? I know I didn't. Not a touch. Not a nudge. I'd even settle for a push or a shove at this point.

I'm all for the metric system too..it's so much easier in nursing to do drug calculations with metric. I still deal with both....converting lbs to kg constantly. It's a pain. That's most of the math right there is converting to metric...if we just used it..we wouldn't need to convert! That's half the chance of med errors right there!

I'm just soooo glad she's from Oklahoma and not TEXAS!!! whew!!!

Actually, as embarassing at it is, she's from North Carolina.

well i'll repeat myself then....At least she's not from Texas! (where we all speak Franch). I get her mixed up with the other blonde idol chick that is from Oklahoma.

Hi all....it's saturday morning here and I've checked uscis just to see if somehow they may have worked OT on Friday. sigh. nothing. I'm finding I actually dread Friday because I know they won't be working as much on the off time to get us approved. I'm not obsessive (much) about checking, but I check about twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Then of course there's the snailmail box I check once a day.....curse Sundays! no mail! hahahaha.

I'm a little sad too..as it appears I'll be spending Christmas alone. Peter can't make it over...and I can't go over there. My children will be at their dad's til the 26th. Maybe I'll go volunteer at a kitchen somewhere for the homeless. That might make me feel better!

I love how she says "Budapest" as if the name were made up just to throw her off the track. "Do thay spake Franch thay-ur?". Ugh, she gives me the willies.

And Im sure that kid was thinking "Okay dumb lady, I saved your butt, now show me your boobies"

Not that she's not a dumba$$ but it was formed by 2 cities named Buda and Pest. She thought Europe was a country. Is she really this dumb or faking it?

Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with the amalgamation on 17 November 1873 of right-bank (west) Buda (Ofen in German) and Óbuda (Old Buda or Alt-Ofen) together with Pest on the left (east) bank.

That looked pretty real to me....it's really hard to fake dumb and be believable. At least there was doubt factor with the whole chicken of the sea thing and we all know buffalo's don't have wings.....still rolling my eyes here

But I will acquiesce to the fact that she's really pretty. Just shows how dumb guys are.....a pretty girl can erase virtually any intelligence that might be there...at least til the blood goes back to the brain from where it was...LOL

No offense intended fellas!!!! I love it when the blood goes away from the brain..that's the perfect time to ask for expensive things!!! love ya guys!!!

At least with Clinton we'd know what the definition of what 'is' is.....

I get to see a naked Geordie whenever I want...that's ALMOST a Scot....yay me!

As the mother of an insulin dependent diabetic...I've had to steer clear of eating out nearly all together. I cook nearly everything from scratch....but it's very expensive and time consuming. I think the sodium thread about the government intervening may be a wise idea because Americans just don't have the resources to make healthy choices at times. Especially if they are single parents and work most of the time..and have limited time to research things and have the access of education of what's healthy.

I'm thankful I've been blessed with a career that allows me to be home early enough to cook for my family. Sorry to ramble on....but this type of issue hits very close to home. My son's father died of complications related to Diabetes and I have 8 kids at the school where I work that are Diabetics. It's truly an epidemic!!! America HAS to change things..it's literally killing us!!!

I'm just soooo glad she's from Oklahoma and not TEXAS!!! whew!!!

WOW! I told y'all there'd be a lot of approvals this week! Congrats to all!

a-jeanne- i'm praying for peace to come to you sister!!! ...and I'll have a glass of wine too just in case you don't have enough to soften the edges a bit

I'm going crazy knowing that ours could be approved any minute..but I log on, and nothing. sigh. But I know it's getting closer!!! I'm checking the uscis website alot too....but it just sort of depresses me. I check my mail..no letter. sigh. It will come soon..I hope.

I'm a coffee lover too, but switched to tea after going to England....they didn't have coffee in the hotel rooms (well they did, but it was instant..that's a sacrilige). I got over the withdrawal (headaches) but I work at a school..and as soon as I got back to work for the fall..i'd smell it brewing...I'd fix some tea...but it called my name...seducing me...summoning me. I was weak, I gave in. In America, Texas in particular, our cups are bigger than in England. So I fixed myself a big ol 12 ounce mug of joe and BAM!!!!! I'm re addicted. It must be horrible to quit smoking because just quitting coffee is a monkey on my back!

My OH has been confident that he will be fine...but recently he has been getting a bit worried too...

I have gotten quite homesick myself during my extended trips to the UK....and I can not imagine how people coped with the vast distances before Internet, Skype, and email. Usually a long conversation with my mom or a friend back home will snap me out of it ( I LOVE SKYPE!!!!) but it does not hurt to be prepared with familiar things and comforts of home. Silly things like my duvet and my favorite crackers that I can not get here in the UK.

So, I am also making a list of things he might miss when we go to the US....TEA...for one, I think is essential....the tea in the UK is much nicer....branston pickle too.

Completely agree with you on the Branston! Cheese and crackers will never be the same for me again! Branston is a must!!

food:

branston pickle, tea, Irn Bru, haggis (real stuff), reasonable priced scottish single malt, HP sauce, houston brewery ale (infact just real ale), dragon palace (local chinese take away)...... I'm sure i'd think of more

TV:

father ted, red dwarf, little britain, still game

random stuff:

popping down to fox and hounds with my brother and his girlfriend at 5mins notice (or my dad), the solid rock bar in glasgow (loads of mates there), cathouse (rockclub in glasgow), braehead shopping centre (i know where to find everything), being 10mins from coast, being 20mins from mountains

Hey debz, just so you know...we can watch Father Ted, Red Dwarf, My hero and some other Brit coms on PBS late night sundays and saturdays. Little Britain is on BBC America (cable subscription), and you can get some UK foodstuffs shipped from www.BuyBritish.net (I got some Bird's custard, treacle, and some mince pies from there...OH and Cadbury flake bars-I made homemade 99's and added carmel sauce and called them 69's LOL).

It's little things that mean alot to remind you of home I'm sure. I've tried hard to make some of my OH's faves from home like homemade Leek casseroles and soups. I'm proud to say i've MASTERED Yorkshire puds (amazing because our flour is different here than there...they rose beautifully). My next endeavour will be bangers and mash. Anyone have a good recipe? I'm quite proud of myself on these as Peter said they were better than his mam's...wonder if he was just being nice..but he ate many helpings so maybe not. Haggis well..I'm not even gonna try to fix that...we didn't eat it even when we were in Edinburgh...ugh. Peter never complained of being homesick..just bored because I had to work..his ID name on MSN is LAUNDRY SLAVE because he did all my laundry. He did it right too!!! Anyway I'm droning on...all for now! GO USCIS!!!! CONGRATS TO ALL APPROVED!!

I rather enjoyed that. Thanks!

Totally off topic!

IN THE NAME OF THE WEE MAN...............I CAN'T STOP SNEEZING, just had a run of 22 sneezes, I thought I was going to die and Nick was in stitches laughing. That has to be some sort of record!

Bless you! Thanks for all you do on the spreadsheet...I think you do great. .....who is the WEE MAN person you talk about ???

Congrats to the newly approved!

Aly...you may have missed my congrats on graduation..you had gone to bed. Good for you!!!

This next week they'll be approving lots I have a feeling!

Thanks USCIS!